Walking In The Cromdale Hills

Came across this by accident when it was downloaded automatically for my iPod. It is from  BBC Scotland "Out Of Doors" Podcast. A report from the Hills Of Cromdale in  Speyside. Hope it is of interest

Elgin City Map – Showing Places Of Interest

 

Here’s a useful street map Of Elgin City showing street and points of historical interest.
It is a pdf file . . .simply click on thumbnail below to open pdf file in new window

Murder At Boharm

 

I’m always on the look out for “interesting” historical notes about Speyside. Here’s a tale of “Murder Most Foul” taken from Heritage Drives Around Keith published by the Keith an District Heritage Group in 2001

Simply click on the pages to view them full size

Linn Falls Circular Walk Aberlour

 

DISTANCE 4.57 km
TIME TAKEN 51 mins
AVERAGE SPEED 5.36 kmp
MIN ELEVATION  126 m
MAX ELEVATION  202 m

CATEGORY: Easy although gradient to top of falls. Can be muddy underfoot in places

Start on Speyside way behind Norlaggan and head West.

Follow waymark posts past the Penny Bridge until the mouth of the Lour Burn and then turn left with the burn on the right

 

Pass the old Packhorse bring  to arrive at the main Road

Cross the road and the Linn Falls Walk will be signposted. Can’t go wrong from this point.

When you come to the waterfall take the stepped path up to the top.

Continue on path until you come to a Road. Turn left down the hill. At T junction turn left then right heading to the to Square. Pass down the side of the Church and join the Speyside Way (turning right) and follow until you return to start point.

The Wibbly-Wobbly Along The Spey

 

DISTANCE 4.49 km
TIME TAKEN 55 mins
AVERAGE SPEED 4.82 kmp
MIN ELEVATION 122 m
MAX ELEVATION 159 m

CATEGORY: Moderate. Figure of Eight walk - most is easy along Speyside Way but section returning to village is on uneven path close to River. Take care (not recommended for solo walking)

Your not likely to find this walk on any leaflets or walking web sites. It a “locals” walk well named the “Wibbly Wobbly” because of rather precarious path returning to the village right beside the River

Starting point is behind Norlaggan on the Speyside Way. Head west following marker posts until you reach the point where the Lour Burn joins the Spey. Don’t take the metal Bridge directly ahead but turn left to follow the Lour until you reach the “Wobbly” wooden bridge across the burn. Cross the bridge and continue on the Speyside. You will pass the football field which is used (mainly on Sundays) by the local team. Notice on the far side of the playing feel the carpark at the top, the path down and the natural “terracing” where spectators get a good view of the pitch.

It is rumoured that somewhere along this section of the Speyside Way Saint Drustan’s Cave can be found. I’ve never found it but perhaps you will. Notice on the right the wooded area known as “Downan’s Wood” which you will walk through on return. Deer can often be seen grazing in the wood perticularly at dawn and dusk. It is also home to an otherwise extinct snail and the wood itself is designation a “Sight Of Special Scientific Interest”

Treck on. You will pass several points where it looks possible to get down the hill on the right to the Dowans Wood path but although possible these paths can be rather slippery. You will come to a point (marked with a metal post with rounded point) which clearly gives access to the “Wibbly Wobbly)

Take care here. You made need to use our hands to steady yourself at certain points . . but the “Wibbly” doesn’t last long before you are on clearly defined path through the Dowan’s Wood. PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB ANY ROCKS OR FALLEN BRANCHES IN THE WOOD. It is actually a criminal offence to alter the environment on any way because of the snails (strange but true)

You will pass several fishing beats belonging to Kinermony Estate. Make sure anyone fishing has seen you before you walk behind them or even approach to close (or you may end up being hooked). Anglers will generally nod to confirm that they have seen you and it is polite to raise your hand in acknowledgement after you have passed them.

You will eventually arrive back at the small metal bridge mentioned earlier. Cross it and retrace your steps back to the wooden bridge but this time carry on along the side of the burn. You will come to a VERY old pack-horse bridge which makes a nice photo and then arrive back at the main road. (There is an option here to carry on to the Linn Falls which I will post details at a later date)

Turn right on to main road, pass the cemetery and Parish Hall (now a Dentists Surgery) and to the square with the impressive Aberlour Parish Church. There are several cafes and pubs if you feel like a refreshment before continuing along the High Street back to Norlaggan

Norlaggan To Macallan Distillery Circular Walk

 

DISTANCE: 9.28 K
TIME TAKEN 1hr 49 min
AVERAGE SPEED 5.1 kmp
MIN ELEVATION 128m
MAX ELEVATION 202M
CATEGORY: Easy on mostly designated paths but with one road section (steep incline) and some off path (on the flat along west bank of River Spey)

We often have guests who want to enjoy Speyside on foot while at the same time visting the world renowned Distlleries in the area. This walk starts and ends at Norlaggan in Aberlour.

Take the Speyside Way along the East Bank of the Spey heading to Craigellachie. After about 2.5 k you will come to LARGE  red brick retaining wall which was built by Irish “Navvies” during the construction of the Speyside Railway. Just before you enter the old railway tunnel pause and look down to the River where you will see a whirlpool (depending on the height of the water.

Carry on through the tunnel and then through a tunnel under the New Bridge. The path will take you along the side of the Craigellachie Hotel and to the back of the Highlander Inn (an ideal place to stop for a pint, a dram or bar meal – while there check out the collection of whiskies particularly the selection of Japanese Whiskies in the alcove and also the complete “Flora & Fauna” collection in the glass case near the main door)

Back to the path and take a left (North) into the park. Keep the fence on the right and pass under the New Bridge to arrive at the Thomas Telford Bridge car park (pause to read the information board). The old bridge used to be the main road to Elgin but was replaced because of difficulty articulated lorries and buses had negotiating the bend at the far end. Cross the Bridge (excellent spot to photograph the River) and take a sharp right to join the main road at the far end of the new road). Before you reach the new road you will see a path heading up the hill to the left. This used to be the main road but is now very overgrown with only a half meter path left. In (or after) heavy rain this path is almost a burn so stout, waterproof shoes or boots essential.

This path will take you on the the main Craigellachie/Archiestown road. Remember to walk ON THE RIGHT facing oncoming traffic and be aware that it may, depending on the traffics site of the road, to step on to the verge to allow traffic to pass safely.

Uphill climb now, but at the top you will be rewarded with fine views over the River to Craigellachie, The Conval Hills and Ben Rinnes.

The entrance to Macallan Distillery is on the left. Pause to look at the little cottage close to the entrance and note how the ivy has completed destroyed the gable of the house. Hopefully the Distillery will renovate this lovely cottage at some time in the future.

Walk down the road (new bonded warehouses on the right) but be aware of cars and lorries using the road to access the distillery (again walk on the right)

You will pass the Emergency Rendezvous Point on the left and a water storage facility for filling the fire appliances if required. Pass the car park and the Visitor Centre is on the left (stop for a tour and a dram)

You are now going to go downhill through the distillery but TAKE the first turn on the right passed the new still house (if you look through the glass doors you will see the stills which are some of the shortest in Scotland (the tallest being at Glenmorangie)

Follow the road down past water filtration system and you will see a path on the right with a new metal gate (and also highland cattle in the paddock on the right) please close the gate after use.

Through the gate into a field. PLEASE KEEP TO THE EDGE OF THE FIELD and head to the river then along the river edge of the field, into next field and then over a style on to the main path on west side of the River. Head on until you get to the Penny Bridge, cross the Bridge and walk along the Riverside Path through the park. Notice the old station and the Mash Tun Whisky bar to the right of the Station (another good stop-off for pint, dram or food)

Follow the marked post to return back to Norlaggan (White Summerhouse At Bottom Of Garden)

Dunnie & Fairy Well Walk, Rothes

 

 

DISTANCE: 5 km (plus 1 km because of wrong turn – see below)

TIME: About 1.5 hours

CATEGORY: Easy (one section with steep incline)

SUMMARY:
This is a circular walk starting in the centre of Rothes, through the Glen Spey Distillery following the Rothes Burn and then turns south and climbs to a viewing platform at Linn Falls Path then before heads along a forestry road past Rothes Golf Club and down tarmac road past Rothes Castle before arriving back in the centre of Rothes by way of Spey Burn Distillery.

WALK REPORT:

I did this walk on 15th January 2012. There is plenty of car parking just round the corner from the Parish Church (in front of the Post Office)

After parking walk to High Street with Church on the left hand corner. Turn right and cross the new bridge completed in 2010 (the area under the bridge and on either side has been landscaped with chairs and picnic tables. There are also public toilets to the west of the bridge on the North Bank of the burn).

After crossing the bridge cross the road and turn left (Police Station on the corner and path sign on wall)

Walk along the road (passing some rather splendid houses on the right). You will see a sign for Rothes Castle path off to the left but keep going straight on and you will pass right through the middle of Glen Rothes Distillery

Once through the distillery you will see a footbridge on the left (again clearly marked for Dunnie & Fairy Well Walk. The path now follows the Rothes Burn. Although the ground was frozen when I did the walk I imagine it could be fairly muddy particularly after heavy rain.

Take a few moment to read the information on the board which gives brief details of the local wildlife and history of the area

Continue for 1.5 km until the path turns left into a wooded area.

The path now climbs fairly steeply through a wooded area. See if you can find the “Fairy Well” which is now covered by a manhole cover (I didn’t notice it). The spring beneath it supplies the production water for Glen Rothes Distillery (cooling water is taking from Rothes Burn)

Although fairly heavy going through the wooded area you will be well rewarded when you reach the viewing platform at the top. There is another Information Board with details of the Linn Fails (and a rather splendid rock for sitting on while you enjoy a cup of tea from your flask or a dram from you hip flask.

Carry on up the hill and when you come to forestry road turn left (I turned right by mistake and had to backtrack after 1 km)

Keep going until you reach another T-junction and again take the left spur. Rothes Golf Club will be on the left (there is a wooded bench if you want a little rest after the climb)

Pass the Rothes Golf Clubhouse and continue until you pass the remains of Rothes Castle.

The road decends past Speyburn distillery and back on to the High Street. Turn left and make your way back to the car park.